Apparatus for developing



Sept. 1 1, 1934. J. BRET QN APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING Filed Jan. 8. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l v 3 1 r A v I..

Sept. 11, 1934. J. BRETON 1,973,306

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING Filed Jan. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jeqn bre' on Sept. 11, 1934. J. BRETON APP'ARATUS FOR DEVELOPING- Filed Jan. 8. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I7 Jean 2% Sept. 11, 1934. .1. BRETON APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING Filed Jan. 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UNITED STATES FATE;

APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING Jean Breton, Bellevue, France Application January 8, 1932, Serial No. 585,521 In Belgium January 17, 1931 5 Claims. (CI. 9589) T oFF c The present invention relates to apparatus for Fig. 6 shows a section taken on line 6 -6 of developing and, more particularly, to those of the Fig. 5; a type in which ammonia is employed as develop- Fig. 7 shows a detail of construction as seen in ing reagent. a section taken on line 77, of Fig. 5; I

.5 One of the objects of the invention is to pro- Fig. 8 is a plan view, partially in section, of

vide a novel apparatus for developing with amthe app atus represented ill u es 4; andfi. monia vapor wherein heat is applied during the Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, course of development, there is shown an assembly composed of the .iole

Another object is to provide a special form lowing elements: a developing chamber ahaving' 0 of machine in hi h the ammonia, is swept out resistance heating elements a buried in the walls 5 of the developing chamber prior to the opening thereof; an end enclosure 2) having an op thereof, therein permitting the passage of a motor shaft;

Still another object is to provide a duplex type a Second end enclosure 0 PTOVidBd w an of machine in which two developing ha ber servation window (not shown) and somesuch are alternately traversed by a current-of amlocking device as is represented in the drawings: 70

monia and by a scavenging air current. a container for ammonia solution d having an A further object is to provide safety means air inlet tube cl extending thereinto and being for insuring against opening of a developing provided with an outletport (1 a screen'c posichamber while the latter is being traversed by a tioned inside y de wand serving to p t-r nt of m ni undue movement of objects inside the latter; 75

An additional object isto provide a valve asm n r circulating gases t u h cylind sembly for a duplex developing machine perlu i g a first three way valve k cap Of mitting either one of two developing ch b establishing communication between (1) the outto be supplied with ammonia or with air, auxild and an inlet D 62 positioned dj c iarymeans being associated with the valve 'assem- 1 d of cylinder (1 (2) between one 80 bly for preventing rotation thereof while ama conduit 7 Connecting p 62 t0 Outlet p Ill/2 monia is traversing either one of the developing of Container a- C0 d three Way valvek conc'hambers. n trolling the intersection between a discharged Another object still is ito provide a special Conduit 9, 11 d a C y i,a 011t '30 generating assembly :for' mixing ammonia ith let port e establishing communication between air, said assembly including means for forming ylinder at and discharged conduit aeand a an -e ulsi n of ir nd am oni ol ti and single control handle Zmounted to simultaneously for subsequently separating the emulsion into its otate valves k and said valves and said valve constituentsie.ammonialaden air and ammonia a d being a led so that When valve 7 3'5 solution. permits the entrance of the outside air, gases Still another object is to provide an apparatus p s ng through discharge conduit 9 a deflected permittingheating of an ammoniasolutionwhile by valve 70 upward into chimney 1, while when the air is passing therethrough 50 as to richen handle Z is turned .to out off the outside air and the ammoniacontent of the air, said apparatus to establish-communication via d 1, e valve: is}

4'0 further permitting :cooling-of the-ammonia-soludeflects the gases traversing conduit 9 downward tion so as to favour reabsorption of ammonia by intooontainer d via inlet conduit :1

the solution. i e The herein above described assembly operates Still furtherobjects will appear in the course in the following manner: assuming ammonia ofthe detailed description now to be given with solution to becharged into container d and Cy reference to accompanyingsdrawings, inwhich': der a to be in closed positionasshownin Figures Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in section (the 1 and2, when handle lis turned to permit cirsection is taken on 'line 1-1 of'l 'ig. 2) of 'one culation of gases from container at through conillustrative embodimentof the invention; duit toward port e and motor i is set in'motion, Fig. 2 is a sectiontaken on line'2--2'ofFig. 1; air will be drawn through inlet conduit 11' into 50, Fig.3 is an' endview of the apparatus reprethe solution inside container (1; the air traversing 5 sented in Figs. 1 and 2; v said solution, laden with ammonia will then pass "Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic section through a through port cl and into cylinder it via if, 70 second form of the invention; 6 and development will begin; during the latter -Fig. 5 represents, in 'elcvation,:the duplex form process, the circuit through heating resistances of machine represented in Figs; v a may be-closed in order to hasten development; 11o

as soon as developing has progressed sufiiciently, the circuit through resistance a may be opened. and valve handle Z turned so as to cut oif communication between points (2 and c while permitting air to enter via valve 70 because of simultaneous rotation of valve k, air will be drawn through cylinder (1, and will discharge, through port e into discharge conduit g whence it will be deflected upward into chimney J instead of downward into container cl; when the ammonia vapours have been thoroughly scavenged, port 0 may be opened and the developed photographic material removed.

In the duplex form of machine shown in Figures 4 to 8, a pair of vertical cylinders a and a similar to the one already described and provided with supporting bases 19 b and hinged closures c 0 are connected to a valve system operating to establish circulation of ammonia vapours through one cylinder while automatically establishing a circulation of the air through the other.

The valve assembly is composed of a stationary plate m having tenports formed therein divided into two groups of five, the first group being composed of a central port it communicating with an evacuationconduit and flanked by (1) a pair of ports 11 n communicating via' a pair of conduits 0 o with one of the extremities of cylinders a and (2) a second pair of ports n n communicating via a pair of conduits 0 0 with the inlet port d of an ammonia reservoir to be described further on,the second group being similarly composed of a central port p communicating via a conduit q with the outlet of said ammonia reservoir, and flanked by (1) a first pair of ports 12 p communicating through the intermediary pair of conduits k k with the opposite extremities of cylinders a a and (2) by a second pair of ports 12 12 communicating with the out side air,-the assembly being completed by a rotatable plate r provided with an appropriate handle and maintained in assembled relation with stationary plate in any convenient way, rotatable plate r being capable of occupying either one or two different positions andbeing provided with four recesses r r r and r? (shown in dotted lines in Figure 4) positioned so as to establish communication (1) between the central port of each group and those next adjacent (for example, 12 of one group and p in the other) and (2) between the two lateral ports on the other side of the central port relatively to said last named next adjacent port (for example, 11, and n in one group and p and p in the other).

The valve assembly and conduits are connected in series with a pair of independent circulating fans mounted to be driven by a single motor The circulating system is provided with means (1) for preventing opening of cylinders a or a while being traversed by ammonia and (2) for preventing rotation of valve element r while either of said cylinders is open.

The former of these two means consists of a pair of cars t t mounted on element 1' so that when the latter is moved into position for sending' a current of ammonia into any given cylinder, one' of said ears moves into contacts with the corresponding end closure 0 or c so as to prevent an opening movement of the latter (each of said closures may be provided with counterweights such as s and screws of some such conventional form as is shown in Fig. 7 for insuring a firm locking action).

' The second above mentioned means includes a pair or spring actuated movable fingersu and LL- voir as is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

positioned in the path of movement of ears t t other of two positions establishing a flow of amrnonia through one cylinder while simultaneously introducing air into the other.

This form of apparatus may be equipped with some such conventional form of ammonia reser- Preferably, however, the special form of reservoir assembly shown in Figs. 4 to 6 (see particularly Fig. 6) should be employed. This special form of asserm bly is characterized by the fact that an emulsion of air and ammonia solution is successively formed and broken up so as to ensure thorough saturation of the air with ammonia, auxiliary means being further provided for heating and cooling the ammonia solution so as to favour volatilization and reabsorption of the ammonia.-

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, there is shown an ammonia volatilizing assembly or generator composed of the following elements: a container d divided into an upper and lower compartment A and B by either a partition (not shown) or by a fixed bell C fitting into the container soas to leave a lateral passage K, the upper wall of the bell supporting an outlet tube F G, portion G extending into compartment E and having a plurality of orifices formed therethrough, and portion F extending upward through compartment B into a glass bell H; a conduit E forming a prolongation of conduits 0 0 and connecting the latter to the upper portion of lower compartment A; a resistance d mounted inside compartment A and extending up into tube G, said resistance serving to heat the ammonia solution adjacent thereto; a pair of small tubes I and J tached thereto extending into glass-bell H at a point adjacent tube F; a tube 0 extending into a compartment A and serving to permit discharge of the gases under bell B when the gaseous pression inside the latter, for any reason, exceeds any predetermined value (forexample, because,

of excessive heating of resistance d and a bent tube L provided with a plug L serving to fill or empty (by siphoning) chamber A.

The above described assembly operates in the following manner: when air is introduced under pressure through tube E, liquid is forced up into compartment B and tube F; when the amount of air in compartment A becomes sufficient, it will pass through the perforations of tube G together with a certain amount of ammonia solution and the emulsion thus formed will rise-into tube F, overflow inside bell H, and pass downward via the annular space surrounding tube F into compartment B; on arriving in compartment B, the emulsion breaks up into a gaseous portion which escapes through outlet port d and is delivered to one of the developing cylinders while the liquid portion remaining flows downward through, passage is into compartment A and repeats the cycle.

Rod N, attached to float M, indicates the amount of liquid in the apparatus which may be filled to any desired level through bent tube L. If it be desired to empty container 1), it is only necessary to unscrew plug L introduce a siphon into tube L, and set ventilator h in motion, the latter acting to start the siphon.

The invention is not to be taken as limited to the particular structures shown; thus, the form of ammonia generator or reservoir represented in Fig. 6 may be used interchangeably with the one illustrated in Fig. l, the latter including heating and cooling elements as may be desired.

' While no cooling elements have been shown in the form of apparatus represented in Fig. 6, the latter should be provided with a cooling serpentine, cooling ribs or equivalent structure permitting the solution in container d to be cooled when it be desired to reabsorb ammonia vapours passing therethrough, heating resistance (1 serving to liberate the ammonia solution during the periods of volatilization.

What I claim is:-

1. In a photograph developing assembly, a pair of developing chambers, a reagent generator mounted to communicate with said chambers, means for establishing a current of gas through said chambers, and a valve assembly operative to establish communication between said generator and one of said chambers while simultaneously cutting off communication between the latter and the other of said chambers, said Valve assembly further operating to establish communication between the atmosphere and the chamber cut off from the generator, whereby air may be aspirated through said last named chamber by said means for establishing a current of gas.

2. In a developing machine, a chamber, a container adapted to contain ammonia solution up to a given level, a first conduit extending from said chamber to a point of said container situated below said level, a second conduit extending from a point of said container situated above said level to said chamber, means connected to one of said conduits for establishing a flow of gas through the circuit constituted by said chamber, said conduits and said container, a valve operative to establish and to cut off communication between the atmosphere and said chamber, and a valve connected to the same conduit as said means and operative to establish and to cut off communication between said circuit and the atmosphere at a point situated on said last named conduit on the other side relatively to aforesaid means than said chamber.

3. A structure as defined in c1aim.2 in com: bination with valve means operative to establish and to cut oil communication between said chamber and said container.

4. In a photograph developing assembly, a pair of developing chambers, a reagent generator mounted to communicate with said chambers, means for establishing a current of gas through said chambers, a valve assembly operative to alternately connect one of said chambers in communication with said generator while simultaneously cutting ofi communication between said generator and the other of said chambers, and means operative to prevent opening of the chamber communicating with said generator via said valve assembly.

5. In a photograph developing assembly, a pair of developing chambers, a reagent generator mounted to communicate with said chambers, means for establishing a current of gas through said chambers, a valve assembly operative to alternately connect one of said chambers in communication with said generator while simultaneously cutting off communication between said generator and the other of said chambers, and means operative to prevent actuation of .a valve assembly while one of said chambers is open.

JEAN BRETON. 

